Folding table and means for mounting the same in a wall opening



g- 23, 1956 c. L. FANGMAN 2,760,836

FOLDING TABLE AND MEANS FOR MOUNTING THE SAME IN A WALL OPENING Filed Sept. 28, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 2

Char/es L. Fangman INVENTOR.

c. L. FANGMAN 2,760,836

FOLI DING TABLE AND MEANS FOR MOUNTING THE SAME. IN A WALL OPENING Aug. 28, 1956 Filed Sept. 28, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 75 Fig. 3 75 l r 6; g 9 i; 45 53 2/ 39 4/ 23 5 47 17? Char/es L. Fangman INVENTOR,

y ma gifia M ii I I W Axiom United States Patent FOLDING TABLE AND MEANS FOR MOUNTING THE SAD IE IN A WALL OPENING Charles L. Fangman, Dubuque, Iowa Application September 28, 1955, Serial No. 537,200

1 Claim. (Cl. 311-18) My invention relates to improvements in folding tables for dining and like purposes especially, although not necessarily.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a pair of twin tables and means for mounting the same in an opening in a partition wall between two rooms for unfolding downwardly oppositely out of the opening into the two rooms to form a composite sectional double sized table at which persons in each room may dine and communicate through the opening, the tables being foldable upwardly when not in use into the recess and wall out of the way to economize in floor and wall space.

Another object is to provide means for mounting the tables so that either when folded will close the opening and the other may be unfolded for private use in a room.

Another object is to provide means for mounting the tables adapted to be installed easily and inexpensively in walls of new or old houses.

Still another object is to provide tables for the above purposes which are easy to operate, safe to use and inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective of one of the tables folded;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical transverse section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical transverse section partly broken away and showing the tables unfolded to form a composite sectional table;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective of the same partly in section;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical transverse section illustrating locking means for retaining the tables folded;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section taken on the line 66 of Figure l; and

Figure 7 is an enlarged view in horizontal section taken on the line 77 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, according to my invention an opening 1 is provided in a partition wall 3 between two rooms 5, 7 by incorporating in the partition wall 3 a door frame 9 embodying facing side stiles 11. a header 13, side trim strips 15 and header trim strips 17. The side trim strips 15 form with the side stiles 11 a pair of vertical internal channels 19 in opposite sides of the frame 9.

A pair of rectangular table tops 21, 23, of panel form, are provided of substantially the same size as the opening 1 defined by the trim strips 15, 17 to fit in upright position in the opening 1 and close the same at opposite sides thereof at the trim strips 15, 17. The trim strips 15, 17 and table tops 21, 23 may be formed of matching 2,760,836 Patented Aug. 28, 1956 material, wood or otherwise, to match the trim, as at 25, in the room at the corresponding side of the frame 9.

The table tops 21, 23 are mounted in the opening 1 by means of the following. A pair of upright channel guides 27, 29 is provided in opposite sides of the frame 3 for each table top 21, 23, with the channels of said guides facing the sides of said tops, each pair of guides 27, 29 having upper gooseneck ends 31, 33 curving inwardly and downwardly of the opening 1, which is to say the frame 9. As will be clear the guides 27, 29 rise from the floor 34 and the gooseneck ends 31, 33 are terminally closed. The pairs of guides 27, 29 are suitably fixed in the channels 19 and in engagement with the side trim strips 15 for a purpose presently seen and the goosenecks 31 and 3,3 in each channel project toward each other in a common plane with closed terminals facing. The guides 27, 29 are flush with the adjacent edges of the trim strips 15 and the table tops 21, 23 fit between the trim strips 15 at opposite sides of the opening and between the pairs of guides 27, 29 with suflicient clearance for swinging and sliding movement.

Pairs of rollers 35, 37 are provided on the table tops 21, 23 adjacent corresponding ends 39, 41 thereof hereinafter termed the guided ends and which rollably fit in the pairs of guides 27, 29 and are suitably mounted on opposite side edges of said tops.

By means of the guides 27, 29 and rollers 35, 37 the table tops 21, 23 may be lifted manually to lift the rollers 35, 37 in said guides 27, 29 and then shoved inwardly of the opening 1 toward each other until the rollers drop into the closed terminals of the gooseneck ends 31, 33 after which said tops 21, 23 may be swung downwardly and outwardly, and unfolded into the rooms 5, 7 into horizontal table forming position. When the table tops 21, 23 are thus moved toward each other rubber bumpers 38 on their ends 39, 34 space the tops slightly apart but said tops are close enough together to form a composite sectional table as shown in Figure 3. As will be seen in the unfolded position of the table tops 21, 23 they are supported at said ends in elevated position by the rollers 35, 37 and the gooseneck ends 31, 33 of said guides.

By swinging the table tops 21, 23 upwardly and inwardly toward each other on the rollers 35, 37, then lifting said tops and pulling their ends 39, 41 outwardly of the opening 1, said tops may be dropped to the floor 34 and swung inwardly into upright position to close the opening 1 as shown in Figure 1.

A pair of legs 41, 43 are provided on the table tops 21, 23 to support said tops in horizontal position. The legs 41, 43 are mounted on the bottom and in the longitudinal center of said tops 21, 23 to unfold by gravity into floor engaging position when said tops 21, 23 are unfolded and to fold against said tops 21, 23 in pendent position when said tops are folded. For this purpose said legs 41, 43 include upper cross bars 45, 47 journaled at their ends adjacent the free ends 40, 51 of said tops and transversely of said tops in bearings 53, 55 on said tops. Spring loaded ball detents 57 in said bearings snapping into notches 59, 61 in said arms 45, 47 lock said legs in folded and unfolded positions. Lower cross bars 63, 65 on the legs 41, 43 are provided with rubber buttons 67 for cushion engagement with the floor 34. Similar buttons 69 are provided on the bars 63, 65 engageable with the tops 21, 23 cushion folding of said legs.

Spring loaded latch bolts 71, in the free ends 49, 51 of the table tops 21, 23 snap into sockets 73 in the header 13 to yieldingly latch said tops in folded position as shown in Figure 5.

As will be obvious either table top 21, 23 may be unfolded to form a table in the associated room, while the other remains folded. This provides for a private dining table in a selected one of the rooms 57.

The table tops 21, 23 and the legs 41, 43 may be ornamented for decorative efiect when the same are folded.

Safety locks for retaining the table tops 21, 23 in folded position against accidental unlatching comprise channel keepers 75 on the header trim strips 17 and slide members 77 for insertion in said keepers and attached to the table tops 21, 23 by chains 79.

The foregoing will it is believed suffice to impart a clear understanding of my invention inasmuch as the use and operation thereof has been set forth in conjunction with the description of parts.

Manifestly the invention is susceptible of modification without departing from the inventive concept and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

In combination with a partition wall between two rooms, a frame fixed in said wall to form an opening between said rooms and having vertical sides, a pair of rectangular table tops adapted to fit in said opening, means pivotally and slidably mounting said table tops at corresponding ends thereof for swinging downwardly out of opposite sides of said opening into the rooms, respectively, and for swinging upwardly into said frame in upright position to close said opening at opposite sides 4 of the frame, said table tops when swung downwardly forming a composite table extending into both rooms, said means comprising pairs of side rollers on said table tops, and pairs of vertical channel guides in opposite sides of said frame in which said rollers ride vertically to provide for vertical sliding and pivoting of the table tops, said guides having gooseneck upper ends projecting toward each'other at opposite sides of said frame with closed terminals facing and in which said pairs of rollers are movable toward each other to move said table tops toward each other to form the composite table.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 653,992 Fleck July 17, 1900 1,553,821 Johnson Sept. 15, 1925 1,583,264 Turner May 4, 1926 1,870,719 Fain Aug. 9, 1932 1,953,038 Bessler Mar. 27, 1934 2,131,675 Schieber Sept. 27, 1938 2,203,394 Schieber June 4, 1940 2,460,464 Lufkin Feb. 1, 1949 2,479,384 Mactaggart Aug. 16, 1949 2,650,146 Mugler Aug. 25, 1953 2,721,778 Wilson Oct. 25, 1955 

